Speaking at the 2026 Vietnam-Japan Semiconductor Symposium (VJSS), Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Le Xuan Dinh said the two countries possess complementary strengths that could accelerate the development of the semiconductor industry.
Japan has strong capabilities in technology, particularly in semiconductor materials, manufacturing equipment, precision production and quality control. Vietnam, meanwhile, offers a young workforce, a rapidly expanding electronics manufacturing sector and a strategic commitment to developing its semiconductor industry.
Deputy Minister Le Xuan Dinh speaks at the 2026 Vietnam-Japan Semiconductor Symposium (Photo: Centre for Science and Technology Communications).
Workforce training aligned with industry needs
According to Le Xuan Dinh, cooperation between the two countries should go beyond engineering education and become a platform for research collaboration, technology transfer and deeper participation by Vietnamese companies in the global semiconductor supply chain.
He said highly skilled workers are a decisive factor in the competitiveness of the semiconductor industry. Vietnam and Japan therefore need to establish long-term training programmes that meet international standards, strengthen postgraduate education partnerships, promote faculty exchanges and expand internship opportunities within industry.
Vietnam has set a target of training 50,000 university-level and postgraduate professionals for the semiconductor sector by 2030.
Cooperation with Japan is expected to strengthen links between universities and businesses, allowing students to gain access to advanced technologies and real-world manufacturing environments. It will also create opportunities for lecturers, researchers and companies from both countries to jointly develop training programmes.
The 2026 Vietnam-Japan Semiconductor Symposium attracts scientists, experts, technology companies, regulators and innovation organisations in the semiconductor field from Vietnam and Japan (Photo: Centre for Science and Technology Communications)
From research to commercialisation
In addition to workforce development, delegates at the symposium stressed the need to expand joint research activities, establish leading research groups and develop shared laboratories between Vietnam and Japan.
Participants noted that the gap between scientific research and commercial products remains significant in the semiconductor sector. Without close cooperation among research institutes, universities and businesses, scientific achievements often struggle to reach large-scale production.
As a result, developing effective frameworks for intellectual property protection, technology transfer and research commercialisation was identified as a priority. Clear rules governing the interests of scientists, research institutions and businesses would help technologies move more effectively from laboratories to the marketplace.
This approach is consistent with broader Vietnam-Japan science and technology cooperation programmes. Among them is the Nexus programme, a partnership between Vietnam and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), which aims to co-fund research in areas including semiconductor design, materials, supporting technologies and manufacturing.
Investment and stronger domestic participation
Vietnam is seeking to attract high-quality investment projects from Japanese companies while helping domestic businesses play a larger role in the semiconductor supply chain, ranging from components, materials and equipment to specialised engineering services.
Bui The Duy, director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, said the Vietnam Japan University aims to become a key hub for Vietnam-Japan cooperation in semiconductor education and research, bringing together research institutes, scientists and businesses from both countries.
Vietnam National University, Hanoi is also developing the National Centre for Integrated Circuit Design, Manufacturing and Testing Support, which will provide shared infrastructure for education, research and collaboration in the semiconductor sector.
Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki said investment in human capital would generate long-term benefits for the semiconductor industries of both countries. He added that stronger research facilities, better equipment, wider access to knowledge and closer cooperation among scientists and businesses would be essential to achieving that goal.